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Iran has declared it will not engage in discussions about its nuclear program while under attack from Israel, even as European diplomats attempt to revive negotiations and the United States weighs potential involvement.
Israel, now a week into its military campaign, said it had struck dozens of Iranian military targets overnight, including missile production facilities, a nuclear research center in Tehran, and installations in western and central Iran. In response, Iran launched another barrage of missiles, hitting areas near residential and industrial zones in the southern city of Beersheba.
The White House indicated that President Trump will decide within two weeks whether the U.S. will step into the conflict, citing possible diplomatic openings with Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that no dialogue with the U.S. would occur “until Israeli aggression stops.” However, he was expected to meet with European foreign ministers in Geneva, where hopes remain to chart a path back to diplomacy.
European diplomats say the U.S. remains open to direct negotiations, though expectations for a breakthrough are low. A senior Iranian official said Tehran was willing to discuss limits on uranium enrichment but ruled out any proposal for zero enrichment—especially under Israeli bombardment.
Israel began striking Iranian targets last week, citing the threat of a nearing nuclear weapons capability. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful. It has retaliated with missile and drone strikes, which have resulted in civilian casualties on both sides.
According to a U.S.-based human rights group, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 600 people in Iran, including high-ranking military officials and nuclear scientists. In Israel, 24 civilians have been killed by Iranian missile strikes.
While both nations claim to be targeting military assets, reports indicate civilian areas have been hit. An Iranian media outlet reported a drone strike on a residential apartment in central Tehran.
Experts say Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites pose limited immediate contamination risks. However, any attack on the Bushehr nuclear power plant could risk a regional nuclear disaster. Israel maintains it wants to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat while avoiding such a catastrophe.
The Geneva meeting holds symbolic weight, as it was the site of the original 2013 interim nuclear accord, later expanded in 2015. The U.S. withdrew from the deal in 2018. Recent talks collapsed after Israel began its military campaign on Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure.
President Trump has alternated between warning Tehran and encouraging dialogue. His regional envoy, Steve Witkoff, has reportedly held multiple conversations with Araqchi.
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, leading to multiple conflicts involving Iran’s allies across the region.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the military to intensify attacks on “symbols of the regime” in Tehran. Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported the arrest of a Mossad agent accused of sharing intelligence via WhatsApp.
Though Iranian opposition groups sense potential for change, internal dissent has been suppressed. Despite the turmoil, pro-government rallies were reported across Iranian cities, framed by state media as acts of “rage and resistance.”
